Obituary of Vicki Saren McDaniel

Vicki McDaniel of Montville, Maine, passed away on April 17th, 2020, after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Born December 7, 1946, in New York City to Ralph and Connie Bettelheim, Vicki grew up in New City, NY where she continues to have lifelong friends. She attended college in San Francisco, California where she met her future husband Greg. On their way back from a trip to Nova Scotia, Canada, Greg and Vicki met Leonard Lookner who encouraged them to spend the winter in an old cape on a dead-end road in Montville. All the locals said, “Why the hell do you want to live up there?” They ended up purchasing the house on 92 acres and have remained there for over 50 years. Vicki and Greg were married in New York in September of 1973. Their children, Shana and Sam, were born shortly thereafter. She waitressed at City Boat, the Belfast Café and Darby’s before becoming a key member of the Belfast arts scene. At Gallery 69, Vicki learned how to frame art. She founded The Belfast Framer in 1990. Within the frame shop, Vicki started Betts Gallery, identifying local artists and curating shows that represented painters’ significance locally and as part of current art trends. Vicki also became an important part of the Belfast business community, working to transition Belfast from an industrial city to the cultural destination it has become today. Vicki curated deep friendships and loved to bring people together. She always found an excuse to host gatherings, celebrating birthdays, sports, and her garden's bounty. Her generosity and kindness extended beyond her friends to their children (and grandchildren) and she always remembered details of her friends' lives. Vicki and her girlfriends took long walks along the river and cross country skied all over Maine to stay fit and connected. Vicki is survived by her husband of 47 years, Greg; her daughter Shana McDaniel and son-in-law Anthony; her son Sam McDaniel, daughter-in-law Eva, and grandson Sam; her sister Judith Bettelheim, and numerous cousins throughout the world. Vicki will be remembered as an avid gardener, an enthusiastic member of the Montville community, and for her love of meaningful conversation and deep devotion to family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County (HVOWC) PO Box 772 Belfast, ME 04915 or the Georges River Land Trust at http://www.georgesriver.org/donate/